The best apples to use for apple pies
Although Granny Smith apples are the preferred favorite of most people for apple pies, I actually prefer Pink Lady apples. You can even use a combination of apples, such as have Granny Smith and half Pink Lady. Avoid apples that have a lot of juice because they are more likely to turn your apple pie filling very liquid-like, thus creating a mushy pie crust and an applesauce consistency in the middle.
How to make apple pie filling
I use an apple slicer to cut my apples, peel off the skin, and then cut each slice into thirds. If you aren’t going to pre-cook your apple pie filling, then the thinner the apples, the better to ensure they cook through when baking.
To prevent your apples from going brown, toss them with the juice of a lemon, and then add the brown and white sugar, and herbs. Set the bowl aside for about an hour, trust me on this. The juices will be extracted from the apples and will settle at the bottom of the bowl. Don’t discard that juice though, we’ll be using it.
How to use pre-made pie crust for mini apple pies
I have one kid who is gluten-free and other family members who are not. I simply don’t have the time to make two varieties of pie crusts from scratch. When I made these mini apple pies I made a second batch of filling and put it into a pre-made gluten-free pie crust and topped it with a crumb topping. My son loved it so much. Pre-made pie crusts are perfect for 9″ pies, but what about 5″ pies as I made? It was actually quite easy to adjust. Four pre-made pie crusts were perfect to make five mini pies.
Place the pie dish upside down on the pie crust and cut around it, allowing for a little extra around the sides. Turn the remaining dough into a ball and roll it back out again. You’ll need three pre-made crusts to make the bases of the five mini pies. Slice the remaining pre-made dough into thin strips to make the lattice tops.
Prevent a soggy pie crust
There are many methods used to prevent having a soggy pie crust. The first thing I do is put a cookie sheet into the oven while it’s preheating, so when you put your pie dish into the oven on top of the tray it’s already hot. I then use a fork to put small holes in the pie crust, and brush a beaten egg over the top.
Remember when I said not to discard the liquid from the apples? This also plays a very big part in preventing soggy crust. Strain your apples, and cook the remaining juice with a tablespoon of cornstarch to thicken it. After your apples are placed inside the pie crust, pour the thicker sauce over the top. This will not only prevent your apple pie filling from being mushy, but you won’t have a soggy pie crust either. Create your lattice top, and then brush that with a little milk.
Bake your mini apple pies for 30-35 minutes until the top has browned.
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